Food & Eating

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفَ رَجُلًا دَرَاهِمَ بِحِنْطَةٍ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ الْأَجَلُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَهُ طَعَامٌ وَ وَجَدَ عِنْدَهُ دَوَابَّ وَ مَتَاعاً وَ رَقِيقاً يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْ عُرُوضِهِ تِلْكَ بِطَعَامِهِ قَالَ نَعَمْ يُسَمِّي كَذَا وَ كَذَا بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا صَاعاً.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment of dirhams in exchange for wheat until the appoint time comes and he does not have any foodstuff but has animals and other assets and slaves; if it is lawful for him to take from his assets in exchange for hi

لَيْسَ عِنْدِي دَرَاهِمُ خُذْ مِنِّي طَعَاماً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِنَّمَا لَهُ دَرَاهِمُ يَأْخُذُ بِهَا مَا شَاءَ[1].

“We once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who sells foodstuff in exchange for dirhams for an appointed time. When the time comes and he demands it, the party says, ‘I do not have dirhams. Take from me foodstuff . 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful; his are dirhams in exchange, for which he can

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفَ دَرَاهِمَ فِي طَعَامٍ فَحَلَّ الَّذِي لَهُ فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ بِدَرَاهِمَ فَقَالَ اشْتَرِ طَعَاماً وَ اسْتَوْفِ حَقَّكَ هَلْ تَرَى بِهِ بَأْساً قَالَ يَكُونُ مَعَهُ غَيْرُهُ يُوَفِّيهِ ذَلِكَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes advance payment of dirhams in exchange for foodstuff and the time comes but the party sends him dirhams. He (the Imam) said, ‘He can buy foodstuff to compensate for his right. Do you see any problems in it ? 5 He (the Imam)

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَمَ دَرَاهِمَهُ فِي خَمْسَةِ مَخَاتِيمَ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ أَوْ شَعِيرٍ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى وَ كَانَ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ الْحِنْطَةُ وَ الشَّعِيرُ لَا يَقْدِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَقْضِيَهُ جَمِيعَ الَّذِي لَهُ إِذَا حَلَّ فَسَأَلَ صَاحِبَ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ نِصْفَ الطَّعَامِ أَوْ ثُلُثَهُ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ وَ يَأْخُذَ رَأْسَ مَالِ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ د

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who makes advance payment in exchange for five Mukhatim (a container) of wheat or barley for an appointed time but the party cannot deliver all that he owes on due time, and he asks the other party to accept half of the foodstuff or one-third or less or mor

فِي الرَّجُلِ يَشْتَرِي طَعَامَ قَرْيَةٍ بِعَيْنِهَا وَ إِنْ لَمْ يُسَمِّ لَهُ طَعَامَ قَرْيَةٍ بِعَيْنِهَا أَعْطَاهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ شَاءَ[1].

‘If the foodstuff of a certain town exactly is not mentioned he can give it from anywhere he likes . 555

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع الرَّجُلُ يُسْلِفُنِي فِي الطَّعَامِ فَيَجِي‌ءُ الْوَقْتُ وَ لَيْسَ عِنْدِي طَعَامٌ أُعْطِيهِ بِقِيمَتِهِ دَرَاهِمَ قَالَ نَعَمْ.

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and asked, ‘I make an advance payment deal with a man for foodstuff and when it is due time I do not have any foodstuff, if I can give him dirhams in exchange. He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, you can do so.”’

سُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَبِيعُ الرَّجُلَ الطَّعَامَ الْأَكْرَارَ فَلَا يَكُونُ عِنْدَهُ مَا يُتِمُّ لَهُ مَا بَاعَهُ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ خُذْ مِنِّي مَكَانَ كُلِّ قَفِيزِ حِنْطَةٍ قَفِيزَيْنِ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ حَتَّى تَسْتَوْفِيَ مَا نَقَصَ مِنَ الْكَيْلِ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ لِأَنَّ أَصْلَ الشَّعِيرِ مِنَ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ لَكِنْ يَرُدُّ عَلَيْهِ الدَّرَاهِمَ بِحِسَابِ مَا نَقَصَ مِنَ الْكَيْلِ.

“Once abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who sells foodstuff to another man in quantity of several kur but cannot deliver what he owes, and says to the other party to accept two Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of barley for one Qafiz of wheat to compensate for the deficit. He (the Imam) sai

الْحِنْطَةُ وَ الشَّعِيرُ رَأْساً بِرَأْسٍ لَا يُزَادُ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمَا عَلَى الْآخَرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Wheat and barley are equal to each other; neither one of the two can be exchanged in excess of the other.’”

قَالَ: لَا يُبَاعُ مَخْتُومَانِ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ بِمَخْتُومٍ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ وَ لَا يُبَاعُ إِلَّا مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ وَ التَّمْرُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ قَالَ وَ سُئِلَ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَشْتَرِي الْحِنْطَةَ فَلَا يَجِدُ عِنْدَ صَاحِبِهَا إِلَّا شَعِيراً أَ يَصْلُحُ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ اثْنَيْنِ بِوَاحِدٍ قَالَ لَا إِنَّمَا أَصْلُهُمَا وَاحِدٌ وَ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ع يَعُدُّ الشَّعِيرَ بِالْحِنْطَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not permissible to sell two Makhtum (a container) of barley for one Makhtum of wheat. These items cannot be exchanged except in equal quantities of each other and so also is the date.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the case of a man who buys wheat but cannot find with h

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الشَّعِيرِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَا سَوَاءً فَلَا بَأْسَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الدَّقِيقِ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَا سَوَاءً فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“I once asked him (the Imam) (a.s.), about wheat and barley. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they are of equal measures it is not harmful.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘I asked him (the Imam) about flour and wheat. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they are of equal measures it is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَ يَجُوزُ قَفِيزٌ مِنْ حِنْطَةٍ بِقَفِيزَيْنِ مِنْ شَعِيرٍ فَقَالَ لَا يَجُوزُ إِلَّا مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ الشَّعِيرَ مِنَ الْحِنْطَةِ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), if it is permissible to exchange one Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of wheat for two Qafiz of barley. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible unless they are of equal quantities.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Barley is from wheat.’”

لآِخَرَ بِعْنِي ثَمَرَةَ نَخْلِكَ هَذَا الَّذِي فِيهِ بِقَفِيزَيْنِ مِنْ تَمْرٍ أَوْ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ يُسَمِّي مَا شَاءَ فَبَاعَهُ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ قَالَ التَّمْرُ وَ الْبُسْرُ مِنْ نَخْلَةٍ وَاحِدَةٍ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ فَأَمَّا أَنْ يَخْلِطَ التَّمْرَ الْعَتِيقَ وَ الْبُسْرَ فَلَا يَصْلُحُ وَ الزَّبِيبُ وَ الْعِنَبُ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ.

“About the case of a man who asks another man to sell the fruits of his certain palm tree for two Qafiz (a certain unit of measurement) of dates or less or more that he names as he likes, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not harmful.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Fresh dates and half-ripe dates from one palm tree c

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي بَصِيرٍ أُحِبُّ أَنْ تَسْأَلَ- أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَبْدَلَ قَوْصَرَتَيْنِ فِيهِمَا بُسْرٌ مَطْبُوخٌ بِقَوْصَرَةٍ فِيهَا تَمْرٌ مُشَقَّقٌ‌[1] قَالَ فَسَأَلَهُ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ ع هَذَا مَكْرُوهٌ فَقَالَ أَبُو بَصِيرٍ وَ لِمَ يُكْرَهُ فَقَالَ كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ع يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَبْدِلَ وَسْقاً مِنْ تَمْرِ الْمَدِينَةِ بِوَسْقَيْنِ مِنْ تَمْرِ خَيْبَرَ

“I once asked abu Basir to ask abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who exchanges two baskets of fresh half-ripe dates for one basket of Mushaqaq (stone-free) dates. Abu Basir asked him (the Imam) and he (the Imam) said, ‘It is Makruh (detestable).’ Abu Basir then asked, ‘Why it is Makruh (detestable)?’ He (

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ عَلِيٌّ ص يَكْرَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَبْدِلَ وَسْقاً مِنْ تَمْرِ خَيْبَرَ بِوَسْقَيْنِ مِنْ تَمْرِ الْمَدِينَةِ لِأَنَّ تَمْرَ خَيْبَرَ أَجْوَدُهُمَا.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying that ’Amir al-Mu’minin disliked exchanging of one wasaq (a certain unit of measurement) of dates of Khaybar with two wasaq of dates of al- Madinah because dates of Khaybar are of superior quality.’”

قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الْبُرِّ بِالسَّوِيقِ فَقَالَ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ يَكُونُ لَهُ رَيْعٌ أَوْ يَكُونُ لَهُ فَضْلٌ فَقَالَ أَ لَيْسَ لَهُ مَئُونَةٌ قُلْتُ بَلَى قَالَ هَذَا بِذَا وَ قَالَ إِذَا اخْتَلَفَ الشَّيْئَانِ فَلَا بَأْسَ مِثْلَيْنِ بِمِثْلٍ يَداً بِيَدٍ[1].

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about his opinion on wheat and the sawiq (mush made of wheat or barley). He (the Imam) said, ‘Their exchange in equal measures is not harmful.’ I then asked, ‘What happens if one has a certain yield or preference over the other?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Does it not have expenses and mainte

الْحِنْطَةُ بِالدَّقِيقِ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ وَ السَّوِيقُ بِالسَّوِيقِ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ وَ الشَّعِيرُ بِالْحِنْطَةِ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is permissible to exchange wheat with flour in equal measures and sawiq (mush) of wheat with mush and barley with wheat in equal measures, is not harmful.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَدْفَعُ إِلَى الطَّحَّانِ الطَّعَامَ فَيُقَاطِعُهُ عَلَى أَنْ يُعْطِيَ صَاحِبَهُ لِكُلِّ عَشَرَةِ أَرْطَالٍ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ دَقِيقاً قَالَ لَا قُلْتُ فَالرَّجُلُ يَدْفَعُ السِّمْسِمَ إِلَى الْعَصَّارِ وَ يَضْمَنُ لَهُ لِكُلِّ صَاعٍ أَرْطَالًا مُسَمَّاةً قَالَ لَا.

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who gives foodstuff to a flour man under a contract that requires him to return for every ten Artal (plural of ritl, a certain unit of measurement) twelve Artal of flour. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is not permissible.’ I then asked about sesame given under a con

لَا يَصْلُحُ التَّمْرُ الْيَابِسُ بِالرُّطَبِ مِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّ التَّمْرَ يَابِسٌ وَ الرُّطَبَ رَطْبٌ فَإِذَا يَبِسَ نَقَصَ وَ لَا يَصْلُحُ الشَّعِيرُ بِالْحِنْطَةِ إِلَّا وَاحِداً بِوَاحِدٍ وَ قَالَ الْكَيْلُ يَجْرِي مَجْرًى وَاحِداً وَ يُكْرَهُ قَفِيزُ لَوْزٍ بِقَفِيزَيْنِ وَ قَفِيزُ تَمْرٍ بِقَفِيزَيْنِ وَ لَكِنْ صَاعُ حِنْطَةٍ بِصَاعَيْنِ مِنْ تَمْرٍ وَ صَاعُ تَمْرٍ بِصَاعَيْنِ مِنْ زَبِيبٍ وَ إِذَا اخْتَلَفَ هَذ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Exchanging dry dates with fresh ones is not valid; dry dates are dry and fresh are not dry. When it dries it shrinks. Exchanging barley with wheat is also not valid unless it is in equal measures.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Measuring is one and the same. It is detestable to exchange one Qa

كَرِهَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَفِيزَ لَوْزٍ بِقَفِيزَيْنِ مِنْ لَوْزٍ وَ قَفِيزَ تَمْرٍ بِقَفِيزَيْنِ مِنْ تَمْرٍ[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), disliked exchange of one Qafiz of almond with two Qafiz of almond and one Qafiz of dates with two Qafiz of dates.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ أَسْلَفَ رَجُلًا زَيْتاً عَلَى أَنْ يَأْخُذَ مِنْهُ سَمْناً قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who makes an advance payment for oil to receive ghee. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not valid.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِلرَّجُلِ إِسْلَافُ السَّمْنِ بِالزَّيْتِ وَ لَا الزَّيْتِ بِالسَّمْنِ.

‘It is not valid for a man to make advance payment in the form of ghee to receive oil and vice versa.’”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْعِنَبِ بِالزَّبِيبِ قَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ إِلَّا مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ قُلْتُ وَ التَّمْرُ وَ الزَّبِيبُ قَالَ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ.

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about the exchange of grape with raisins and he (the Imam) replied, ‘It is not permissible unless it is in equal measures.’ I asked about exchange of dates and raisins. He (the Imam) said, ‘It must be in equal measures.’”

الْمُخْتَلِفُ مِثْلَانِ بِمِثْلٍ يَداً بِيَدٍ لَا بَأْسَ.

exchange of two different kinds of goods at the same time is not harmful.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع مَا تَرَى فِي التَّمْرِ وَ الْبُسْرِ الْأَحْمَرِ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ قُلْتُ فَالْبُخْتُجُ وَ الْعَصِيرُ مِثْلًا بِمِثْلٍ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ‌[2].

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about dry dates and fresh dates exchanged in equal measures. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’ I then asked him (the Imam) about cooked juice and uncooked one exchanged in equal measures. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not harmful.’”

مَا كَانَ مِنْ طَعَامٍ مُخْتَلِفٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ أَوْ شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْأَشْيَاءِ يَتَفَاضَلُ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِهِ مِثْلَيْنِ بِمِثْلٍ يَداً بِيَدٍ فَأَمَّا نَظِرَةً فَلَا تَصْلُحُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In the exchange of foodstuff of different kinds or other things with different quantities is not harmful in a hand in hand transaction but it is not valid on credit.’”

مَا كَانَ مِنْ طَعَامٍ سَمَّيْتَ فِيهِ كَيْلًا فَلَا يَصْلُحُ مُجَازَفَةً هَذَا مِمَّا يُكْرَهُ مِنْ بَيْعِ الطَّعَامِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘In the case of foodstuff of known measurement venturous estimation is not valid and it is of undesirable matters in the case of foodstuff.”’

قُدِّمَ لِأَبِي ع مَتَاعٌ مِنْ مِصْرٍ فَصَنَعَ طَعَاماً وَ دَعَا لَهُ التُّجَّارَ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا نَأْخُذُهُ مِنْكَ بِدَهْ دَوَازْدَهْ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَبِي وَ كَمْ يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ قَالُوا فِي عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ أَلْفَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُمْ أَبِي إِنِّي أَبِيعُكُمْ هَذَا الْمَتَاعَ بِاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ أَلْفاً فَبَاعَهُمْ مُسَاوَمَةً.

2. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘ Umayr from Hammad from al-Halabiy who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once goods for my father came from Egypt. He (the Imam) prepared food and invited the merchants. They said, ‘We buy from you Be dah dawazdah. He (the Imam) a

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تُعَالِجُ قُلْتُ أَبِيعُ الطَّعَامَ فَقَالَ لِي اشْتَرِ الْجَيِّدَ وَ بِعِ الْجَيِّدَ فَإِنَّ الْجَيِّدَ إِذَا بِعْتَهُ قِيلَ لَهُ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ فِيكَ وَ فِيمَنْ بَاعَكَ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from al-Washsha’ from ‘Asem ibn Hamid who has said the following: “Once, abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), asked me, ‘How do you make a living?’ I replied, ‘I sell foodstuff.’ He (the Imam) said to me, ‘Buy those of good quality and sell of the good

سَأَلْتُ الرِّضَا ع عَنْ قَوْمٍ مِنَ الْعَدُوِّ صَالَحُوا ثُمَّ خَفَرُوا[1] وَ لَعَلَّهُمْ إِنَّمَا خَفَرُوا لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُعْدَلْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَ يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يُشْتَرَى مِنْ سَبْيِهِمْ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مِنْ عَدُوٍّ قَدِ اسْتَبَانَ عَدَاوَتُهُمْ فَاشْتَرِ مِنْهُمْ وَ إِنْ كَانَ قَدْ نَفَرُوا وَ ظَلَمُوا فَلَا تَبْتَعْ مِنْ سَبْيِهِمْ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ سَبْيِ الدَّيْلَمِ يَسْرِقُ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ وَ يُ

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), about the enemy people who make peace, then breach it because justice was not practiced with them; if it is permissible to buy their captives. He (the Imam) said, ‘If they are open enemies you can buy but if they are exiled and treated unjustly, then do not buy their captives.’ I asked hi

كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْهِ قَوَائِمُ السُّيُوفِ الَّتِي تُسَمَّى السَّفَنَ‌[4] أَتَّخِذُهَا مِنْ جُلُودِ السَّمَكِ فَهَلْ يَجُوزُ الْعَمَلُ لَهَا وَ لَسْنَا نَأْكُلُ لُحُومَهَا فَكَتَبَ ع لَا بَأْسَ‌[5].

“I once wrote to him (the Imam) (a.s.), and asked, ‘There is a certain sheathing of swords called al-Safan (sandpaper) which is from skin of fish; if it is permissible to work with and we do not eat its meat.’ He (the Imam) wrote back, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ مِنَّا يَشْتَرِي مِنَ السُّلْطَانِ مِنْ إِبِلِ الصَّدَقَةِ وَ غَنَمِ الصَّدَقَةِ وَ هُوَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُمْ يَأْخُذُونَ مِنْهُمْ أَكْثَرَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ الَّذِي يَجِبُ عَلَيْهِمْ قَالَ فَقَالَ مَا الْإِبِلُ وَ الْغَنَمُ إِلَّا مِثْلَ الْحِنْطَةِ وَ الشَّعِيرِ وَ غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ حَتَّى تَعْرِفَ الْحَرَامَ بِعَيْنِهِ قِيلَ لَهُ فَمَا تَرَى فِي مُصَدِّقٍ يَجِيئُنَا فَيَأْخُذُ صَدَق

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of one of our men who bought from the sultan of the camels of charity and sheep of charity and he knew that they took more than what is rightly due on them. He (the Imam) said, ‘Camels and sheep are just like wheat and barley and other goods. It is not unlawful unless he

مَنِ اشْتَرَى طَعَامَ قَوْمٍ وَ هُمْ لَهُ كَارِهُونَ قُصَّ لَهُمْ مِنْ لَحْمِهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one buys the foodstuff of a people who dislike such purchase, on the Day of Judgment it will be recovered for them from his flesh.’”

لَا يَصْلُحُ ثَمَنُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ ثَقِيفٍ أَهْدَى إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص رَاوِيَتَيْنِ مِنْ خَمْرٍ فَأَمَرَ بِهِمَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فَأُهَرِيقَتَا وَ قَالَ إِنَّ الَّذِي حَرَّمَ شُرْبَهَا حَرَّمَ ثَمَنَهَا ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ خِصَالِ هَذِهِ الَّتِي بَاعَهَا الْغُلَامُ أَنْ يُتَصَدَّقَ بِثَمَنِهَا[3].

“About the case of a man who has a slave whom he has left at a vineyard to sell grapes or juice, but the slave goes and squeezes wine and sells it, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’The price received is not useable.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Once a man from Thaqif presented to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ لَهُ كَرْمٌ أَ يَبِيعُ الْعِنَبَ وَ التَّمْرَ مِمَّنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ يَجْعَلُهُ خَمْراً أَوْ سَكَراً فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا بَاعَهُ حَلَالًا فِي الْإِبَّانِ الَّذِي يَحِلُّ شُرْبُهُ أَوْ أَكْلُهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِهِ‌[3].

“I once wrote to ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and asked about the case of a man who had a vineyard; if he could sell grapes and dates to someone who made wine or sugar out of them. He (the Imam) said, ‘He has sold it as lawful when drinking, eating was lawful, thus it is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع- عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُسْلِمُ فِي الْحَيَوَانِ أَوِ الطَّعَامِ وَ يَرْتَهِنُ الرَّهْنَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ تَسْتَوْثِقُ مِنْ مَالِكَ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who contracted for purchasing an animal or foodstuff in the form of advance payment with al-Rahn (security deposit). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful to secure your asset.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْمَلَّاحِ أَحْمِلُ مَعَهُ الطَّعَامَ ثُمَّ أَقْبِضُهُ مِنْهُ فَنَقَصَ فَقَالَ إِنْ كَانَ مَأْمُوناً فَلَا تُضَمِّنْهُ.

“This is concerning my question before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the case of a man who transported people on the water to the other side and I carried foodstuff through him then received it from him and it was reduced. He (the Imam) said, ‘If he is trusted, you must not hold him liable.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ سَفِينَةً مِنْ مَلَّاحٍ فَحَمَّلَهَا طَعَاماً وَ اشْتَرَطَ عَلَيْهِ إِنْ نَقَصَ الطَّعَامُ فَعَلَيْهِ قَالَ جَائِزٌ قُلْتُ لَهُ إِنَّهُ رُبَّمَا زَادَ الطَّعَامُ قَالَ فَقَالَ يَدَّعِي الْمَلَّاحُ أَنَّهُ زَادَ فِيهِ شَيْئاً قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ هُوَ لِصَاحِبِ الطَّعَامِ الزِّيَادَةُ وَ عَلَيْهِ النُّقْصَانُ إِذَا كَانَ قَدِ اشْتَرَطَ عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ‌[1].

“I once asked abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about the case of a man who hired a ship from a sailor and loaded it with foodstuff, with the condition that if it was reduced he was liable. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is permissible.’ I then said, ‘Perhaps it increases.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Does the sailor claim that he has increase

فِي رَجُلَيْنِ كَانَ لِكُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا طَعَامٌ عِنْدَ صَاحِبِهِ وَ لَا يَدْرِي كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا كَمْ لَهُ عِنْدَ صَاحِبِهِ فَقَالَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا لِصَاحِبِهِ لَكَ مَا عِنْدَكَ‌[3] وَ لِي مَا عِنْدِي قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ إِذَا تَرَاضَيَا وَ طَابَتْ أَنْفُسُهُمَا.

“About two men who each had a certain amount of grain in the possession of the other but no one of them knew how much was the amount, and each one of them had said to the other one, ‘You can have whatever amount of grain is with you and I will have the amount which is with me,’ one of the two Imam, (abu Ja’far or abu ‘

لَمَّا هُبِطَ بِآدَمَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ احْتَاجَ إِلَى الطَّعَامِ وَ الشَّرَابِ فَشَكَا ذَلِكَ إِلَى جَبْرَئِيلَ ع فَقَالَ لَهُ جَبْرَئِيلُ يَا آدَمُ كُنْ حَرَّاثاً قَالَ فَعَلِّمْنِي دُعَاءً قَالَ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي مَئُونَةَ الدُّنْيَا وَ كُلَّ هَوْلٍ دُونَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ أَلْبِسْنِي الْعَافِيَةَ حَتَّى تَهْنِئَنِي الْمَعِيشَةُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When Adam descended to earth he needed food and drinks and he complained to Jibril. Jibril said to him, ‘O Adam, be a farmer.’ He said, ‘Teach me a prayer.’ Jibril said, ‘Say: “O Lord, protect me against the worldly impediments and all horrors that are before reaching paradise and dre

قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع كَانَ أَبِي يَقُولُ‌ خَيْرُ الْأَعْمَالِ الْحَرْثُ تَزْرَعُهُ فَيَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ الْبَرُّ وَ الْفَاجِرُ أَمَّا الْبَرُّ فَمَا أَكَلَ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ اسْتَغْفَرَ لَكَ وَ أَمَّا الْفَاجِرُ فَمَا أَكَلَ مِنْهُ مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ لَعَنَهُ وَ يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ الْبَهَائِمُ وَ الطَّيْرُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), would say, “The best work is farming in which you plant, and the virtuous as well as sinful ones eat. The virtuous on eating asks forgiveness for you and the sinful one on eating it is condemned; and even animals and birds eat thereof.’”

قَضَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص فِي شُرْبِ النَّخْلِ بِالسَّيْلِ أَنَّ الْأَعْلَى يَشْرَبُ قَبْلَ الْأَسْفَلِ وَ يُتْرَكُ مِنَ الْمَاءِ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ ثُمَّ يُسَرَّحُ الْمَاءُ إِلَى الْأَسْفَلِ الَّذِي يَلِيهِ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى تَنْقَضِيَ الْحَوَائِطُ وَ يَفْنَى الْمَاءُ.

’Those of the higher area drink before the lower ones, and water is left up to the anklebones; then water is allowed for the lower ones which is next until all gardens’ needs are met and water is depleted.’”

وَجَدْنَا فِي كِتَابِ عَلِيٍّ ع‌ إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لِلَّهِ يُورِثُها مَنْ يَشاءُ مِنْ عِبادِهِ وَ الْعاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ‌ أَنَا وَ أَهْلُ بَيْتِيَ الَّذِينَ أَوْرَثَنَا الْأَرْضَ وَ نَحْنُ الْمُتَّقُونَ وَ الْأَرْضُ كُلُّهَا لَنَا فَمَنْ أَحْيَا أَرْضاً مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَلْيَعْمُرْهَا وَ لْيُؤَدِّ خَرَاجَهَا إِلَى الْإِمَامِ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِي وَ لَهُ مَا أَكَلَ مِنْهَا فَإِنْ تَرَكَهَا أَوْ أَخْرَبَهَا فَأَخَ

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘We have found in the book of Ali (a.s.), that the land belongs to Allah which He makes whomever of His servant He wants to inherit; and the end result is in favor of the pious people. We and the people of the House have inherited the earth and we are the pious ones. All of the earth belon

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَا بَيْنَ بِئْرِ الْمَعْطِنِ إِلَى بِئْرِ الْمَعْطِنِ أَرْبَعُونَ ذِرَاعاً وَ مَا بَيْنَ بِئْرِ النَّاضِحِ إِلَى بِئْرِ النَّاضِحِ سِتُّونَ ذِرَاعاً وَ مَا بَيْنَ الْعَيْنِ إِلَى الْعَيْنِ خَمْسُمِائَةِ ذِرَاعٍ وَ الطَّرِيقُ إِذَا تَشَاحَّ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلُهُ فَحَدُّهُ سَبْعَةُ أَذْرُعٍ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, assigned the distance between two wells for drinking water to be forty Dhira‘ (arms length) and between two irrigating wells sixty Dhira‘ and between two water fou

يَقُولُ‌ حَرِيمُ الْبِئْرِ الْعَادِيَّةِ[1] أَرْبَعُونَ ذِرَاعاً حَوْلَهَا وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى خَمْسُونَ ذِرَاعاً إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ إِلَى عَطَنٍ أَوْ إِلَى الطَّرِيقِ فَيَكُونُ أَقَلَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ إِلَى خَمْسَةٍ وَ عِشْرِينَ ذِرَاعاً

‘The distance between two old wells must be forty Dhira‘ around it and between two wells for drinking water fifty Dhira‘ unless it is near the road, in which case it is less than twenty five Dhira‘.”’

مَا بَيْنَ بِئْرِ الْمَعْطِنِ إِلَى بِئْرِ الْمَعْطِنِ أَرْبَعُونَ ذِرَاعاً وَ مَا بَيْنَ بِئْرِ النَّاضِحِ إِلَى بِئْرِ النَّاضِحِ سِتُّونَ ذِرَاعاً وَ مَا بَيْنَ الْعَيْنِ إِلَى الْعَيْنِ يَعْنِي الْقَنَاةَ خَمْسُمِائَةِ ذِرَاعٍ وَ الطَّرِيقُ يَتَشَاحُّ عَلَيْهِ أَهْلُهُ فَحَدُّهُ سَبْعَةُ أَذْرُعٍ.

Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, assigned the distance between two wells for drinking water to be forty Dhira‘ (arms length) and between two irrigating wells sixty Dhira‘ and between two water foun

كَانَتْ لِإِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع دَنَانِيرُ وَ أَرَادَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ قُرَيْشٍ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ يَا أَبَتِ إِنَّ فُلَاناً يُرِيدُ الْخُرُوجَ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ وَ عِنْدِي كَذَا وَ كَذَا دِينَاراً فَتَرَى أَنْ أَدْفَعَهَا إِلَيْهِ يَبْتَاعُ لِي بِهَا بِضَاعَةً مِنَ الْيَمَنِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا بُنَيَّ أَ مَا بَلَغَكَ أَنَّهُ يَشْرَبُ الْخَمْرَ فَقَالَ إِسْم

‘Isma’il, son of abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), had a certain amount of dinar and a man from Quraysh wanted to travel to Yemen, so ‘Isma’il asked his father, ’Father, so and so wants to go to Yemen and I have so and so amount of dinar. Do you think I should give it to him to bring for me goods from Yemen?’ Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ زَرَعَ حِنْطَةً فِي أَرْضٍ فَلَمْ يَزْكُ زَرْعُهُ‌[2] أَوْ خَرَجَ زَرْعُهُ كَثِيرَ الشَّعِيرِ فَبِظُلْمٍ عَمِلَهُ فِي مِلْكِ رَقَبَةِ الْأَرْضِ أَوْ بِظُلْمٍ لِمُزَارِعِيهِ وَ أَكَرَتِهِ لِأَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- فَبِظُلْمٍ مِنَ الَّذِينَ هادُوا حَرَّمْنا عَلَيْهِمْ طَيِّباتٍ أُحِلَّتْ لَهُمْ‌[3] يَعْنِي لُحُومَ الْإِبِلِ وَ الْبَقَرِ وَ الْغَنَمِ وَ قَالَ إ

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘If one plants wheat in a land and it does not come pure or the plantation grows with a great deal of barley, it is because of the injustice of his work to the piece of land that he owns or it is because of the injustice of his workers. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, s

نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص أَنْ يُؤْكَلُ مَا تَحْمِلُ النَّمْلَةُ بِفِيهَا وَ قَوَائِمِهَا.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah prohibited eating of what ants carry in their mouth or with their legs.”

إِذَا أَصَابَتْكُمْ مَجَاعَةٌ فَاعْبَثُوا بِالزَّبِيبِ.[1]

‘When you are hungry play (eat slowly) with raisins.

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يَشْكُونَ فِيهِ رَبَّهُمْ قُلْتُ وَ كَيْفَ يَشْكُونَ فِيهِ رَبَّهُمْ قَالَ يَقُولُ الرَّجُلُ وَ اللَّهِ مَا رَبِحْتُ شَيْئاً مُنْذُ كَذَا وَ كَذَا وَ لَا آكُلُ وَ لَا أَشْرَبُ إِلَّا مِنْ رَأْسِ مَالِي وَيْحَكَ وَ هَلْ أَصْلُ مَالِكَ وَ ذِرْوَتُهُ إِلَّا مِنْ رَبِّكَ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘There will come a time when people complain before their Lord.’ I then asked, ‘How they will complain before their Lord?’ He (the Imam) replied, ‘A man will